SAN PEDRO, Belize — The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) says indigenous tourism leader Dame Pania Tyson-Nathan, chief executive of New Zealand Māori Tourism, will deliver the keynote address at the Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Conference scheduled for April 27 to 30 in Belize. The event, known as STC 2026, will be held in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, according to the CTO.
The event, commonly known as STC 2026, will be staged in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye under the theme “Tourism in Full Color: Integrating Blue, Green, Orange and Beyond Economies,” according to the CTO.
Dame Pania is widely recognized for advancing indigenous-led tourism development and for promoting models that place cultural identity, guardianship, and community well-being at the center of economic decision-making.
What the Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Conference will cover in Belize
CTO Secretary General and CEO Dona Regis-Prosper said the conference is designed to move beyond traditional sustainability silos by examining how environmental protection, cultural industries, and community-based development intersect.
Regis-Prosper said Dame Pania’s work on “culturalizing commerce” aligns with the conference’s push for integrated planning that protects heritage while strengthening long term environmental and economic resilience.
CTO has also been advancing regional travel access as part of its wider agenda, including CTO’s air connectivity push in the Caribbean.
Organizers said STC 2026 will focus on the blue and green economies, including marine conservation, climate resilience, and low-carbon growth, alongside the orange economy, which emphasizes creative and cultural industries tied to regional heritage.
The program will also examine “beyond” economies, including the so-called purple economy, which highlights cultural values, social cohesion, indigenous knowledge systems, and inclusive growth as pillars of regenerative prosperity.
Belize hosting and the indigenous heritage focus
Belize Tourism Minister Anthony Mahler said hosting STC 2026 underscores how indigenous knowledge and cultural continuity can inform modern tourism planning, particularly as destinations face climate and development pressures.
Mahler pointed to Belize’s Maya legacy, the UNESCO-recognized traditions of the Garifuna people, and the country’s forests and barrier reef as examples of how culture and nature are closely linked to national identity and visitor appeal.
Organizers said the four-day conference will include ministerial roundtables, master classes, and field-based learning experiences aimed at giving delegates direct exposure to Belize’s sustainable tourism initiatives.
Dame Pania’s background and recognition
The CTO said Dame Pania brings more than three decades of experience in tourism development and indigenous enterprise leadership, and has promoted a values-based investment approach since 2009.
Her honors include being named among the Top 50 Global Tourism Innovators in 2021 and induction into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2022, according to the conference announcement.
In 2024, she was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Māori and business, the CTO said.
